Evaluation of Nighttime Seat Belt Enforcement Demonstration Program and Identification of Characteristics of Unbelted High-Risk Drivers

National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15259362018PDFTech ReportRetting, RichardBallou, McKenzieSexton, ThomasMiller, RichardRothenberg, HeatherKerns, TimothyJohnson, AbreeM. Davis and CompanyUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited States. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesMarylandSeat beltsDemonstration projectsDriver recordsEvaluationHigh risk driversHighway safetyNightSeat belt useTraffic accidentsTraffic law enforcementCrash dataHigh visibility enforcementDOT HS 812 474DTNH22-10-R-00347Guzzetta, Carole S.Final ReportThe present study evaluated the effectiveness of a high-visibility nighttime seat belt enforcement program conducted in Maryland by measuring changes in day and night self-reported and observed seat belt use and crash outcomes. To better understand the characteristics of unbelted drivers, the study compared the driving records of motorists who received seat belt citations during the enforcement crackdown with drivers who were not cited for failing to use seat belts. Statistically significant pre-post increases in nighttime seat belt use in the program area were observed for three of the five activity waves. Analysis of driver records found clear evidence that drivers cited for seat belt violations had poorer driving records than those who were not cited for seat belt violations. Some of the differences were substantial. For example, drivers cited for seat belt infractions were nearly eight times more likely than those not cited to have prior seat belt violations on their driver records. Analysis of crash data for the program area found significant declines in the proportion of occupants involved in injury crashes that were unbelted, both at night and during the day. For fatal crashes, nonsignificant declines were observed in the proportion of occupants that were unbelted at night, as well as the proportion of occupants that were unbelted during the day and night combined.129